A sea of ​​Hawaiian flags flowed through Kaahumanu Avenue on Saturday morning as several thousand Maui residents marched in solidarity with the ongoing protest against the construction of the 30-meter telescope on Mauna Kea.

The rally began with a hula and oli ceremony or singing at War Memorial baseball pitches, and ended with a series of speakers and a concert at the University of Hawaii Maui College.

Kahoʻokahi Kanuha, one of the leaders of the anti-TMT movement, gave a few words at the end of the event.

"We have the right to determine for ourselves, our holy places should be protected, because we are real people, like everyone else," said Kanuha.

"Not only hundreds or thousands of people on Mauna Kea are against this telescope. There are thousands of people all over Hawaii who are against it and hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of people around the world who are against it. "

TMT supporters say the telescope would support local economy and astronomical research.

TMT representatives announced that they are looking for the necessary permits to build a telescope at site B in the Canary Islands, but maintain that Mauna Kea is their preferred location.